Oiling device for adjustable chairs and stools



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

L. POSTAWKA.

01mm DEVICE FOR ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS AND STOOLS.

Patented June 16, 1885.

WITNESSES- Nv PETERS. Pilate-Lithographer, Walhingkm. n. c

(No Model.) I -2 SheetsSheet 2. L. POFSZTAWKA.

OILING DEVICE FOR. ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS AND STOOLS.

N0. 320,395. Patented June 16, 1885.

WIT 455555- N. PETERS. Phnmulhn n mr. wuhingnm D. a

Batman Srarns Parent @rrrcn.

LOUIS POSTAWKA, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

OiLlNG DEVICE FOR ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS AND STOOLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,395, dated June 16, 1835.

Application filed October 27, 1884.

attached to the seat or upper part, which works in a nut attached to the lower part; and it consists of means for automatically lubricating such nuts and screws in a neat and effective manner, so that they will always workeasily together and without grinding or squeaking, which is a constant annoyance in the use of articles of this construction. As chairs and stools of this kind are usually constructed, the operative nut is attached to the legs where they are joined together beneath the seat, while the screw which operates in connection with this nut to raise and lower the seat is attached to the under side of the frame of the seat. For the purpose of keeping the screw continually and properly lubricated, I provide an oil-cup with a hole through its bottom of about the same size as the diameter of the screw, and attach this cup either to the top or to the bottom of the operative nut, but preferably to the top, so that when the screw is inserted into the nut and run down it will also pass through the opening in the bottom of the oil-cup. In order to prevent the oil from being fed to the screw too freely and thus cause it to run down and drip upon the floor, I construct the oil-cup with an annular projection in it around this central screw-hole of sufficient height to retain any superfluous oil which may collect, and till the cup closely with felt or other suitable absorbent packing, arranging it so as to leave the scrcwhole in the bottom of the cup unobstructed. This packing will take up and hold the oil in the cup, and, being continually in contact with the screw, will keep it properly lubricated. Ordinarily it will be found unnecessary to have the packing bear upon the screw entirely around its circumference, and therefore I profor to make the annular projection within the cup a little higher than the outer rim of the (No model.)

cup, and leave small openings in this inner ring through which the packing can be pressed against the screw; and in order to be sure that the packing is constantly pressed through. the openings, I place apin or other projection, which may be attached to the inside of the cup, opposite each of these openings, so that the packing when crowded around these pins will be forced through the openings in the inner ring against the adjusting-screw; also, by making the inner annular projection higher than the outer wall of the cup, it serves as a stop for the socket in which the upper end of the adjustingscrew is fastened when the seat is brought down to its lowest position. This oilcu p may be made separate and afterward attached to the plate, which is usually applied upon the top of the legs of such seatsupports; or the cup maybe cast as a part of such plate, or as a part of the operating nut, or it may be made to fasten upon the lower end of the nut. For the purpose of keeping dust and dirt from collecting upon the packing, I provide a cover which shall fit closely upon the top of the cup. Instead of making the oil-cup to be applied in the manner above mentioned, the nut may be constructed with projections upon its sides, in each of which a chamber may be made with an opening into the screw-hole of the nut, and into these chambers pieces of said packing saturated with oil may be in sorted and kept constantly pressed against the threads of the adjusting-screw by means of a set-screw or equivalent device, as illustrated at Figure at of the drawings. The same result may also be accomplished by making the screw-rod hollow to receive the packing saturated with oil, which may be kept in place by a plug at the bottom and by boring holes through the sides of the screw-rod the packing will project, and thus as the screw is run brought successively against the oily surface of the projecting pieces of packing. This construction is illustrated in Fig. 5. The most convenient and economical form of lubrica tors, however, I have found to be those above mentioned, which are to be attached to or made a part of the operating-nut.

1n the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an adjustable-seat stool with the oil-cup up or down the threads of the nut will be,

complete, attached to the plate on top of the legs. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the oil-cup upon the plate with the cover removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the operating nut, capplate, and oil-cup cast in one piece. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the modified form of oilchamber made in a projection upon the side of the nut, and Fig. is a sectional view of an adjusting-nut and chambered screw-rod filled with packing and provided with openings through which the packing may project.

The same letters indicate corresponding parts. i

A is the operating-nut, and B the adjustingscrew; 0, the cap-plate which covers the top of the legs of the seatsupport; D, the oil-cupattached to the top of the plate 0. a is the outer wall or rim of the oil-cup; b, the. annular inner projection or ring; 0, the openings therein through which the packing is pressed against the threads of the adjusting-screw; d, the projecting pins within the cup opposite the openings c. e is the absorbent packing. fis the hole in the center of the cup, through which the adjusting-screw B passes. g is the cover for the oil-cup, held closely in place by means of elbow-grooves, h, which fit over small lugs ion the outside of the cup. is is the top of the annular inner projection, which serves as a stop to the socket I when it is run down in the operation of lowering the seat. The cover 9 is also made with a hole through the top, so as to fit over the projecting top k of the inner rin g.

In the modified form shown at Fig. 4, m is the oil cup or chamber filled with absorbent packing e; n,'the opening into the screw-hole in the nut, and by means of the set-screw 0 the pressure of the packing against the adj ust'ing-screw B can be regulated.

In the modification shown at Fig. 5, A is the nut; B, the chambered adjustingscrew filled with absorbent packing, e, held in place by the plug-screw]? at the lower end. (1 q are openings into the oil chamber of the screw-rod B, from which the packing projects, and is thus brought into contact with the threads of the nut when the screw is raised or lowered.

What I claim is- 1. In combination with the nut and adjusting-screw of an adjustable seat-support, an oilreceptacle provided with absorbent packing,

which is held constantly and positively in contact with the screw-threads opposed thereto through openings in the walls of the receptacle, for the purpose of lubrication, in the man-.

ner substantially as described.

2. An oil cup or receptacle having a central opening through the bottom thereof for the passage of the adjusting-screw of a seat-support, and an annular projection surrounding such opening provided with apertures through which absorbent packing may be pressed against the screw for the purpose of lubrication, in the manner substantially as described.

3. In combination with the .support for an adjustable seat, a nut and chambered adjusting-screw provided with pertorationsinto said chamber, through which absorbent packing which holds a lubricating material may project, in the manner and for the purpose specified.

LOUIS POSTAWKA.

WVitnesses R. L. Ronnn'rs, MARY E. WooDBURN. 

